Fruit and veggie prices skyrocket

by Shoba Rao

25th Feb 2019 8:07 AM
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Exclusive: Fruit and vegetable prices have soared as much as 50 per cent as extreme weather hits family budgets.

Parents face a budgeting battle to put just about anything green on the dinner plate at the moment, with regions that grow baby spinach, snow peas, broccolini, beans, herbs, celery and lettuce hit by bad weather.

But shoppers are being implored to ride out the increases to help struggling growers.

Hot conditions in Victoria and Queensland's floods are among causes of the price spike.

A News Corp Australia analysis shows broccoli prices have soared from about $5/kg to as much as $10/kg at some supermarkets.

High temperatures in Victoria have led Woolworths to raise its price on broccoli to $8.90/kg while Coles is seeking $7.90 online. Aldi is at $7.69.

Broccoli is one of the items that has gone up in price. Picture: News Corp

Supermarkets are charging as much as $25/kg for green beans and $18/kg for snow peas.

An AUSVEG spokesman implored shoppers to back farmers even if retail prices increase.

"We would urge local consumers to buy local fresh product when it is available, as it not only supports local farmers but is the best way to ensure that consumers are supporting their health," he said.

All of the grocery items that have gone up in price. Picture: News Corp

Many other vegetables are still good value, including pumpkin, carrots and zucchini.

Banana supplies have been crimped by flooding in Queensland.

This has pushed prices at some retailers to $6/kg. Woolies and Coles are charging $4.90/kg on their websites.

Bananas have gone up in price but it will be for a short period of time. Picture: Supplied

Cattle and meat prices are still unkonwn after what’s happened in Queensland. Picture: Thinkstock

A Meat and Livestock Australia spokesman told News Corp: "This is an extremely tough time for many Queensland cattle producers, especially on the back of the drought conditions many have been experiencing.

"As the situation is still unfolding, the full scale of the floods is unknown, and therefore impossible to ascertain the extent of the impact to cattle numbers and hence price," he said.

"Large stock losses can have an impact on cattle market prices, however it is difficult to anticipate the full impact at this stage. The floods may lead to tighter supply in the affected areas and may subsequently impact cattle prices in the short-term, however there are numerous factors that also influence prices, including seasonal conditions across other key cattle production regions, domestic and global demand, production from overseas competitors, currency movements and feed costs."

Renata Brak with her sons Leo, 4, Nicholas, 2 with healthy foods they eat all the time. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Mum Renata Brak from Alexandria in Sydney loves feeding greens to her boys Leo, 4, and Nicholas, 2 but has noticed her options have been in short supply.